Marine & Freshwater Toxins

Our Task Force in 2005

This year will be an exciting one. In the process of reaching our goal of producing high quality validated methods we are also going to also have very productive symposia, in-person meetings and, above all, very productive and stimulating online discussions along the way. We did this last year, and our most positive feedback from those participating was on the success of the specific toxin subgroups, meeting both electronically and in-person. I agree and personally find these (and other) interactions in our group very satisfying. Through the subgroups, we can produce a tangible product, something that can be missing from many otherwise excellent conferences and related efforts. On this topic, my friends, I especially want to let you know that I recognize that the most valuable resource here is what you are giving already, your very valuable time. Thanks!

We are about to acquire (projected late January) new "online forum" resources for these discussions that will make our electronic Task Force efforts more efficient and practical than email, and thus impact less on your time. Each subgroup will have its own resource.

Due to the cost of these online forums, access will require AOAC membership.

For those of you who are not members this means a $100 (approx. 75 Euro) investment to derive full benefit and, although it is not unusual to have such fees, I am sensitive to this myself since some employers (like mine) do not provide professional organization membership fees. If you bear with me and read on you will see why this is a good investment - I won't address the general benefits of AOAC membership (for that there is the web site http://www.aoac.org/membership/IndividualMembership.html). Instead I will show you some compelling Task Force member benefits with regards to symposia, online resources, and more. I am not "fundraising" here, but your continued involvement in the Task Force is very important to me, and I hope to all of you.

Reduced Registration Rates for Upcoming Symposia, Task Force Meetings, and AOAC Meetings

"Marine and Freshwater Toxins Analysis: 1st Joint Symposium and AOAC Task Force Meeting" April 11-14, 2005 in Baiona, Spain (Registration discount of 100 Euros for this meeting exceeds the AOAC membership fee of $100 by $35)
"Marine and Freshwater Toxins: Quality Methods for Public Health and International Trade" at the AOAC Annual Meeting (September 11-15, 2005 in Orlando, Florida). This whole day symposium is being planned for the day following Dr. Michael Quilliam's Wiley Award Symposium on Phycotoxins and CRMs. Members of AOAC are entitled to a $180 discount on registration at this Annual Meeting, thus come out $80 ahead.
Task Force Meetings at the above Orlando AOAC Annual Meeting, including Subgroup Meetings. These are covered by Annual Meeting registration also.
Task Force Meetings in Seattle, Washington (including Subgroup Meetings) joint with June 22-24, 2005 Northwest Regional AOAC Meeting. There is also a registration discount.

Access to a new Task Force internet resource, Online Discussion Forums which will:

Provide for individual sub-group discussions directly on the Task Force web page
Eliminate overload of our email inboxes from subgroup discussions and in particular a workable alternative to using "Reply to All" in these discussions
Allow upload of documents/draft methods by the sub-group or Task Force for discussion and comment

As you can see there are many very promising and potentially very productive symposia, Task Force meetings, online discussions and other developments this year.

Overall it gives me much satisfaction to tell you that AOAC has been extremely supportive of all our efforts. This includes both our Task Force efforts and the above upcoming toxin symposia, which they have supported by either co-sponsorship (Baiona, Spain meeting with Univ. Vigo as primary sponsor) and by approving and providing resources for toxin symposia within their Annual Meeting (Orlando Florida September 2005). I can promise you that I will continue to pursue such efforts (we owe Dr Ana Gago-Martinez many thanks for suggesting and organizing the Baiona meeting). I have focused on benefits related to the Task Force but there are many other benefits available to all AOAC members and many more "in the works."

In closing I also want to say that support for our group also includes extensive time and efforts of AOAC staff (which they have cheerfully and professionally provided). They are also promoting our group, clearly stating in their publication Inside Laboratory Management (both in September/October and November/December Issues) to AOAC members that marine and freshwater toxins are a priority area. Also important is the very positive feedback from AOAC to us. The reason this is so crucial is that it bodes well for future support of the Task Force. More than once at the St Louis annual meeting I was told that our Task Force was an ideal model for the Association in that it was very international, very balanced, and above all, very engaged in working together. Good words!